1. Disable X and K bands, and leave KA and Laser on. That will eliminate most of your false positives.
2. V1 doesn't 'trigger' near high end vehicles, per se. What's happening is that some cars (like Infiniti) have laser guided cruise control. This will set off the Laser detection on the V1.
3. Radar detectors are only illegal in 2 places in the states: West Virginia and Washington, D.C. They are not illegal in California. However, it *is* illegal to mount anything on your windshield.
4. My V1 has saved me more times than I can count (I have 80k miles on my car, and it doesn't turn 3 until next month).
5. The directional arrows are awesome on the V1. So is the concealed display. Makes it a lot easier to not have you distracted by the noisy thing beeping at you by your mirror. :P

Upgrade Recommendation: You already have our best performer, enhanced by crystal-controlled frequency tuning. More recent V1s, however, have two additional features. Traffic Monitor Filter eliminates the K-band false alarms caused by a traffic flow-measuring system being installed along some U. S. highways; SpeedInfo sends frequent K-band radar bursts into the traffic stream (www.speedinfo.com to learn more). If you drive in an area with one of these systems, this upgrade will pay off immediately. Extended Serial Protocol (ESP) enhances two-way communication with SAVVY and future peripheral devices.

1. Disable X and K bands, and leave KA and Laser on. That will eliminate most of your false positives.2. V1 doesn't 'trigger' near high end vehicles, per se. What's happening is that some cars (like Infiniti) have laser guided cruise control. This will set off the Laser detection on the V1.
3. Radar detectors are only illegal in 2 places in the states: West Virginia and Washington, D.C. They are not illegal in California. However, it *is* illegal to mount anything on your windshield.
4. My V1 has saved me more times than I can count (I have 80k miles on my car, and it doesn't turn 3 until next month).
5. The directional arrows are awesome on the V1. So is the concealed display. Makes it a lot easier to not have you distracted by the noisy thing beeping at you by your mirror. :P

I strongly recommend it to anyone in the market for a radar detector.

AWESOME post, thanks. I'm new to the whole radar game. I was suspecting it was possibly due to the PDC sensors on the high end cars, but didn't know about laser guided cruise control. thanks!

V1 all the way. For CA, turn off X and K band because all CA law enforcement use are Ka or laser. Do that and V1 will be super quiet, unless Ka is detected, and then you can be pretty sure it's a cop. If you get popped with laser, you're done--doesn't matter what you have.

Laser jammers are illegal in all 50 states and merely send an error code to the gun. You have to slow down rapidly and turn off the jammer, so if the cop re-targets you he doesn't get another error. Getting caught with a jammer probably isn't a good thing.

GPS doesn't detect radar, it just marks a location. The last thing you want is to have the detector auto mute a location that always goes off (e.g., speed display sign) only to have a cop sitting nearby that day with his radar gun.

V1 arrows are the shit, too. At least you know from what direction the threat is coming. Very helpful and something none of the others do.

V1 all the way. For CA, turn off X and K band because all CA law enforcement use are Ka or laser. Do that and V1 will be super quiet, unless Ka is detected, and then you can be pretty sure it's a cop. If you get popped with laser, you're done--doesn't matter what you have.

Laser jammers are illegal in all 50 states and merely send an error code to the gun. You have to slow down rapidly and turn off the jammer, so if the cop re-targets you he doesn't get another error. Getting caught with a jammer probably isn't a good thing.

GPS doesn't detect radar, it just marks a location. The last thing you want is to have the detector auto mute a location that always goes off (e.g., speed display sign) only to have a cop sitting nearby that day with his radar gun.

V1 arrows are the shit, too. At least you know from what direction the threat is coming. Very helpful and something none of the others do.

I acutally thought that the gps helped in location the cops and making sure that was it was a cop? Escort users seem to have a lot to say about the 9500ix. They all say its better in detecting cops than the v1. While it being slower, its less likely it gets false. In a forum I read thru, they said that it has free future upgrades and from a former v1 owner/ friend of mine, he said that its an amazing radar, it catches warnings and signals like none other but the fact it catches everything including falses, he would recommend the 9500ix over the v1 so far but he misses the arrows and quickness(it figures lol)
The arrows and quickness is what pulled me towards a v1 originally and all the talk of how great it is so Imight just reconsider it. Plus the v1 is considerably cheaper used than the 9500ix even if it is older

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron1n

Additionally, for example, the latest update for mine includes:

Upgrade Recommendation: You already have our best performer, enhanced by crystal-controlled frequency tuning. More recent V1s, however, have two additional features. Traffic Monitor Filter eliminates the K-band false alarms caused by a traffic flow-measuring system being installed along some U. S. highways; SpeedInfo sends frequent K-band radar bursts into the traffic stream (www.speedinfo.com to learn more). If you drive in an area with one of these systems, this upgrade will pay off immediately. Extended Serial Protocol (ESP) enhances two-way communication with SAVVY and future peripheral devices.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron1n

Notes about the V1:

1. Disable X and K bands, and leave KA and Laser on. That will eliminate most of your false positives.
2. V1 doesn't 'trigger' near high end vehicles, per se. What's happening is that some cars (like Infiniti) have laser guided cruise control. This will set off the Laser detection on the V1.
3. Radar detectors are only illegal in 2 places in the states: West Virginia and Washington, D.C. They are not illegal in California. However, it *is* illegal to mount anything on your windshield.
4. My V1 has saved me more times than I can count (I have 80k miles on my car, and it doesn't turn 3 until next month).
5. The directional arrows are awesome on the V1. So is the concealed display. Makes it a lot easier to not have you distracted by the noisy thing beeping at you by your mirror. :P

I strongly recommend it to anyone in the market for a radar detector.

Thank you for telling me about what to leave on and turn off! Ill ask my friend to do so tomorrow with his v1 and see how it handles compaired to the 9500ix and ill hopefully see from there. I've noticed the speed of the v1 because it was antenna style radar but we shall see how much better that is to the other radar.
If windshield mounts are illegal, why do shops sell windshield mounts for gps', phones, etc.? I've read that the only thing allowed to be on the windshield is a gps system and being as the 9500ix is a "gps" style radar would it fit the loop hole?
And what about about laser "shifters?" They said it doesn't jam the laser, it merely deflects it temporarily until the driver can slow down but it does have an on and off switch so would you get busted as bad for the shifter as a jammer?

__________________

Quote:

Originally Posted by The HACK

I'm going to use a very simple analogy, I hope you'll understand.
Driving is like having sex.
It really is. You can read up all you want about how to please a woman, you can look at all the diagrams in the world, but just like the clitoris, you won't know what the hell an apex is before you actually find it.

Been going insane doing research and it all falls between two affordable/ quality radars. The escort passport 9500ix vs. Valentine1. I've gotta say I'm extremely impressed with the sensitivity thrown off by the v1 vs. The 9500ix. The 9500ix is certain but notifies me way too late where as the v1 alerts extremely quick but have false signals as well. Which one looks nicer? 9500ix by far but which functions better and is more helpful? I've gotta say the v1. The arrows telling you where its coming from is absolutely amazing. I took both for a run simultaneously and wow. I'm leaning hard towards the v1 now. I was alerted about a cop about a mile to half mile away while at the half mile the 9500 didn't even have a clue just yet, but man the v1 picks up false signals like none other. I probably picked up 10 false signals driving thru a mall parking lot with speed signs and unattended cop cars. So now it all falls down to this question. 9500ix vs. V1? I would like honest opinions please. You guys aren't the seller now, just be real with me. Thank you!

__________________

Quote:

Originally Posted by The HACK

I'm going to use a very simple analogy, I hope you'll understand.
Driving is like having sex.
It really is. You can read up all you want about how to please a woman, you can look at all the diagrams in the world, but just like the clitoris, you won't know what the hell an apex is before you actually find it.

1. Disable X and K bands, and leave KA and Laser on. That will eliminate most of your false positives.
2. V1 doesn't 'trigger' near high end vehicles, per se. What's happening is that some cars (like Infiniti) have laser guided cruise control. This will set off the Laser detection on the V1.
3. Radar detectors are only illegal in 2 places in the states: West Virginia and Washington, D.C. They are not illegal in California. However, it *is* illegal to mount anything on your windshield.
4. My V1 has saved me more times than I can count (I have 80k miles on my car, and it doesn't turn 3 until next month).
5. The directional arrows are awesome on the V1. So is the concealed display. Makes it a lot easier to not have you distracted by the noisy thing beeping at you by your mirror. :P

I strongly recommend it to anyone in the market for a radar detector.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbad335

V1 all the way. For CA, turn off X and K band because all CA law enforcement use are Ka or laser. Do that and V1 will be super quiet, unless Ka is detected, and then you can be pretty sure it's a cop. If you get popped with laser, you're done--doesn't matter what you have.

Laser jammers are illegal in all 50 states and merely send an error code to the gun. You have to slow down rapidly and turn off the jammer, so if the cop re-targets you he doesn't get another error. Getting caught with a jammer probably isn't a good thing.

GPS doesn't detect radar, it just marks a location. The last thing you want is to have the detector auto mute a location that always goes off (e.g., speed display sign) only to have a cop sitting nearby that day with his radar gun.

V1 arrows are the shit, too. At least you know from what direction the threat is coming. Very helpful and something none of the others do.

You guys have convinced me, I just heard so many bad things about false alarms with the V1. And I did not want to be conditioned into ignoring them. That would just defeat the whole purpose of having a detector at all.

Unfortunately, even if I had them. I got popped with Lidar by bike highway patrol in California for my first ticket. For my second one I'm not so sure. It was a city cop bike, but because the equipment for KA is probably pretty hefty. I have a feeling it was Lidar as well.

Get the V1! I currently use the V1 right now and it's been my 4th radar detector, and it saved me countless times. I commute from SD to SF all the time, and I love it. I now know which city has most CHP's and where I can/can't speed. Like some of the guys said, you can turn off K/X band, that will eliminate false signals. There are a couple spots I know that doesn't have cops, but my radar goes off for laser. But still, I rather have it go off for a false laser than not having it go off at all. You can't always rely on the radar either, you still have to watch out! Watch video's to help guide you through turning the K/X band off if you still don't understand. My buddy has a Escort Passport I believe a 8000 series. It's good too, hands down, but no arrows. It also does detect false signals like the V1. Same spot too and we both commute from SD to SF. (We drove two cars and tested both radars)

Get the V1! I currently use the V1 right now and it's been my 4th radar detector, and it saved me countless times. I commute from SD to SF all the time, and I love it. I now know which city has most CHP's and where I can/can't speed. Like some of the guys said, you can turn off K/X band, that will eliminate false signals. There are a couple spots I know that doesn't have cops, but my radar goes off for laser. But still, I rather have it go off for a false laser than not having it go off at all. You can't always rely on the radar either, you still have to watch out! Watch video's to help guide you through turning the K/X band off if you still don't understand. My buddy has a Escort Passport I believe a 8000 series. It's good too, hands down, but no arrows. It also does detect false signals like the V1. Same spot too and we both commute from SD to SF. (We drove two cars and tested both radars)

Quote:

Originally Posted by smokinpeanuts

Laser jammers I believe are illegal. I've asked many stores that sell them and they all tell me these jammers don't sell often. I almost got a set for 300 bucks, but just saved it for a JB4.

I do agree on the false signals are better than none but I'm kinda sketch towards driving around 6x as paranoid as I do now. But hey, its nice to get a heads up esp. With arrows
I've tried out a car with a jammer but all it really does is send out an error code. 9/10 times the cop will ask if you are equipped with a jammer/ laser deflection system. You can lie all you want but once they see them, hello FAT ticket lol. I've heard of something called veil coating for head lights and tail lights that stop the reflection of the radar for a bit so you can slow down but it only comes in one color that isn't very appealing to me(ice blue). See now if they made it in different colors such as yellow or even a lighter blue, id be sold on that too. Kinda sucks that its permanent and our headlight covers aren't exactly cheap because as I last recall, they're not sold separately. I think my new set up will be a hardwired v1 and some veil coating I just wish they made a removable one or at least in different color..

__________________

Quote:

Originally Posted by The HACK

I'm going to use a very simple analogy, I hope you'll understand.
Driving is like having sex.
It really is. You can read up all you want about how to please a woman, you can look at all the diagrams in the world, but just like the clitoris, you won't know what the hell an apex is before you actually find it.

I saw a 06 5 series with jammers that were black and the guy hid them behind the grill. They did a really good job blending it in. You can always spray paint it black if it's in a color you don't like lol.

I saw a 06 5 series with jammers that were black and the guy hid them behind the grill. They did a really good job blending it in. You can always spray paint it black if it's in a color you don't like lol.

Lol either way if a cop sees it I'm toasted
Its like telling your girl,"honey its not the color of your mustache."

__________________

Quote:

Originally Posted by The HACK

I'm going to use a very simple analogy, I hope you'll understand.
Driving is like having sex.
It really is. You can read up all you want about how to please a woman, you can look at all the diagrams in the world, but just like the clitoris, you won't know what the hell an apex is before you actually find it.

V1 all the way. For CA, turn off X and K band because all CA law enforcement use are Ka or laser. Do that and V1 will be super quiet, unless Ka is detected, and then you can be pretty sure it's a cop. If you get popped with laser, you're done--doesn't matter what you have.

Laser jammers are illegal in all 50 states and merely send an error code to the gun. You have to slow down rapidly and turn off the jammer, so if the cop re-targets you he doesn't get another error. Getting caught with a jammer probably isn't a good thing.

GPS doesn't detect radar, it just marks a location. The last thing you want is to have the detector auto mute a location that always goes off (e.g., speed display sign) only to have a cop sitting nearby that day with his radar gun.

V1 arrows are the shit, too. At least you know from what direction the threat is coming. Very helpful and something none of the others do.

I have Escort and when there is a marked location and cop with radar next to it my radar detector alarms me that there is another radar. I put mine on expert mode and it shows you up to 5 radar signals all together. I can't comment on distance difference vs. V1 because never had one, but false alert wise and for the cities I drive Escort is great.

Best thing to do is just slam your car so you don't have to worry about going fast

Lol I'd love to but I don't exactly drive cautiously. The last thing I need is to pay for a new bumper every 3 months lol

Quote:

Originally Posted by joro2077

I have Escort and when there is a marked location and cop with radar next to it my radar detector alarms me that there is another radar. I put mine on expert mode and it shows you up to 5 radar signals all together. I can't comment on distance difference vs. V1 because never had one, but false alert wise and for the cities I drive Escort is great.

The major downside is that the 9500ix costs almost 200 more
Do you have escort live? I heard its a waste of money because people don't usually tap onto the network to alert other drivers

__________________

Quote:

Originally Posted by The HACK

I'm going to use a very simple analogy, I hope you'll understand.
Driving is like having sex.
It really is. You can read up all you want about how to please a woman, you can look at all the diagrams in the world, but just like the clitoris, you won't know what the hell an apex is before you actually find it.

V1......
Call up Valentine you can get their returns at a deep discount.
They give all new accessories and a regular warranty. You can only get them by phone.
It will save about 10-15%.

Also I talked to a Calif Highway Patrol Officer at Sears Point World Touring Car, he swears by the V1 and indicated, it is the only detector on the market that will detect his instant on gun while it's idling, ready for attack.

I have a V1 hardwired in my car.
Once you get the arrows, there is no going back.
Also there is a remote display and another company makes an accessory to use your Android phone/tablet as the remote display.

This is going to end up a Escort vs Valentine war. I have had both and both do a great job finding the local smokies in thier nests.

pros and cons for both

V1 has the arrows, you dont understand how nice they are till you no longer have them. Getting a radar tag then trying to find him is fun and all but Id rather have a good idea where to start. If its a cop in oncoming traffic with 30 other cars is a lot less stressful than one coming up behind you. Again the arrows I like a lot. The display is no nonsense and big, tells you whats going on without any guess work. I didnt like that you have to turn off radar types to shut the thing up. X and K bands arent used a lot anymore by most sherrifs offices, but you roll through an older town and the K and X band are all they got. So be careful where you are if you have those off. As well no GPS filter, so the stationary cams, doors to walmart, and so on will go off unless you turn off that band of radar. Me personally I do not want to buy a detector then only use half of its abilitys.

9500i/ix they both have GPS filtering, the IX comes loaded with red light cameras which to me is not important I have no need for that, and speed traps like Lidar and speed cameras which can be updated. As you get close to these places you get a warning to settle down. As well you can add speed traps, cameras, red light cameras, and filter out the school zone speed signs and such with a few presses of the buttons on the radar. Filter out the bad, add the ones you know are usual traps. As for filtering out types of radar at certain spots you do not have to worry about a cop deciding to sit there one day, you only filter out that devices handshake per say. It can detect a different signature so no worries on that at all. Downside is the lack of those arrows. In stock form when a radar signature shows up the screen tells you your speed, to again tell you your speeding, then it gives you a strength meter a second later. This is when you start to hunt him out, is he behind you, in front of you, other side of the road? Ive had KA blaring and never see the car.

Both have Pop detection, which is when the laser is just taking a reading before prior to firing the laser for accuracy. As well the instant on/off detectors in most Highway patrol cars they both did a very good job for me. The V1 is invisible to radar detector detectors, so if they arent allowed which only 3 states arent they wouldnt know you had it, the Passport they will find in a heartbeat.

Ive had both, right now I only own one and thats the 9500i. Again I love the arrows, but I like to run all forms of radar not just half to make it quiet.

V1......
Call up Valentine you can get their returns at a deep discount.
They give all new accessories and a regular warranty. You can only get them by phone.
It will save about 10-15%.

Also I talked to a Calif Highway Patrol Officer at Sears Point World Touring Car, he swears by the V1 and indicated, it is the only detector on the market that will detect his instant on gun while it's idling, ready for attack.

I have a V1 hardwired in my car.
Once you get the arrows, there is no going back.
Also there is a remote display and another company makes an accessory to use your Android phone/tablet as the remote display.

Thanks for letting me know about the discount on the valentine1's, why do they not advertise it someway to get more business or sell at a fraction claiming they're "refurbished" radars?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goofyguy

This is going to end up a Escort vs Valentine war. I have had both and both do a great job finding the local smokies in thier nests.

pros and cons for both

V1 has the arrows, you dont understand how nice they are till you no longer have them. Getting a radar tag then trying to find him is fun and all but Id rather have a good idea where to start. If its a cop in oncoming traffic with 30 other cars is a lot less stressful than one coming up behind you. Again the arrows I like a lot. The display is no nonsense and big, tells you whats going on without any guess work. I didnt like that you have to turn off radar types to shut the thing up. X and K bands arent used a lot anymore by most sherrifs offices, but you roll through an older town and the K and X band are all they got. So be careful where you are if you have those off. As well no GPS filter, so the stationary cams, doors to walmart, and so on will go off unless you turn off that band of radar. Me personally I do not want to buy a detector then only use half of its abilitys.

9500i/ix they both have GPS filtering, the IX comes loaded with red light cameras which to me is not important I have no need for that, and speed traps like Lidar and speed cameras which can be updated. As you get close to these places you get a warning to settle down. As well you can add speed traps, cameras, red light cameras, and filter out the school zone speed signs and such with a few presses of the buttons on the radar. Filter out the bad, add the ones you know are usual traps. As for filtering out types of radar at certain spots you do not have to worry about a cop deciding to sit there one day, you only filter out that devices handshake per say. It can detect a different signature so no worries on that at all. Downside is the lack of those arrows. In stock form when a radar signature shows up the screen tells you your speed, to again tell you your speeding, then it gives you a strength meter a second later. This is when you start to hunt him out, is he behind you, in front of you, other side of the road? Ive had KA blaring and never see the car.

Both have Pop detection, which is when the laser is just taking a reading before prior to firing the laser for accuracy. As well the instant on/off detectors in most Highway patrol cars they both did a very good job for me. The V1 is invisible to radar detector detectors, so if they arent allowed which only 3 states arent they wouldnt know you had it, the Passport they will find in a heartbeat.

Ive had both, right now I only own one and thats the 9500i. Again I love the arrows, but I like to run all forms of radar not just half to make it quiet.

It seems as if this thread is turning to exactly that, sensitivity and arrows vs. Sure thought and looks. I am seriously caught in the middle but most of the people posting don't seem have owned both of them and the few that have recommend the 9500ix over the v1. Maybe the 9500ix is better than the v1 but around my area, there are hardly any old or outdated town near by or any outdated cops. Which would you recommend ? The v1 or 9500I? I live in a pretty busy and updated city and commute thru cities that are similar. I do understand what you mean though about running your radar at half capacity instead of full strength, but are the arrows and sensitivity really a major pro vs. the 9500ix?

__________________

Quote:

Originally Posted by The HACK

I'm going to use a very simple analogy, I hope you'll understand.
Driving is like having sex.
It really is. You can read up all you want about how to please a woman, you can look at all the diagrams in the world, but just like the clitoris, you won't know what the hell an apex is before you actually find it.

1. Disable X and K bands, and leave KA and Laser on. That will eliminate most of your false positives.
2. V1 doesn't 'trigger' near high end vehicles, per se. What's happening is that some cars (like Infiniti) have laser guided cruise control. This will set off the Laser detection on the V1.
3. Radar detectors are only illegal in 2 places in the states: West Virginia and Washington, D.C. They are not illegal in California. However, it *is* illegal to mount anything on your windshield.
4. My V1 has saved me more times than I can count (I have 80k miles on my car, and it doesn't turn 3 until next month).
5. The directional arrows are awesome on the V1. So is the concealed display. Makes it a lot easier to not have you distracted by the noisy thing beeping at you by your mirror. :P

I strongly recommend it to anyone in the market for a radar detector.

They're legal in WV, they're only illegal in VA and DC.

Which sucks because I live in VA. And they're pricks here too, there are roads with 70 MPH speed limits but 80 MPH is a "reckless driving" ticket.

V1......
Call up Valentine you can get their returns at a deep discount.
They give all new accessories and a regular warranty. You can only get them by phone.
It will save about 10-15%.

Also I talked to a Calif Highway Patrol Officer at Sears Point World Touring Car, he swears by the V1 and indicated, it is the only detector on the market that will detect his instant on gun while it's idling, ready for attack.

I have a V1 hardwired in my car.
Once you get the arrows, there is no going back.
Also there is a remote display and another company makes an accessory to use your Android phone/tablet as the remote display.

If I was in your shoes OP, this post would have sealed the deal for me. When a professional(CHP) says the V1 is good he's saying it for a reason.